Getting and using a wheelchair is a huge investments for most people. From determining what features are necessary to the total cost, every detail must be carefully thought out to ensure that the wheelchair is exactly what the user needs.
Wheelchairs came into being as a mode of transportation to help a person with limited or no mobility reach their destination. King Phillip II of Spain is one of the first persons depicted in a wheelchair, one that required others to move it on...
Wheelchair softball gives those with disabilities that confine them to wheelchairs the opportunity to participate in one of the most popular recreational sports in the country. Wheelchair softball follows most rules of 16-inch slow-pitch softball...
A lack of oxygen to the brain or a blockage in an artery can cause a person to suffer a stroke. Increased pressure in the brain or a blood clot can cause the blockage. Bleeding in the brain causes damage quicker and is more extensive....
Hemiplegia, or one-sided paralysis, is a very common outcome of a stroke. Recovering use of the affected side of the body is often possible, at least to some degree. It takes months and sometimes years to relearn and recover the function, but...
Getting your child into physical therapy as soon as he is diagnosed with muscular dystrophy (MD) is an important step in caring for him during the early years of the disease. Learning what type of exercising your child can do at each stage of MD...
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a term used to identify a number of neurological impairments typically appearing in infancy or early childhood, according to researchers at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. People affected with...
Disabled or impaired individuals use adaptive equipment to allow them to function both in society and at home. Equipment can vary from small writing tools to large motorized vehicles. The amount of adaptable equipment available is growing in an...
Old age can be one of the most challenging times of someone's life. It is a period marked by decline, loss and tough choices. It affects not only the aging individual, but also those around him, especially adult children. People with elderly...
Whether you were injured on the battlefield or in the corn field, if you are a veteran of the U.S. or British Armed Services confined to a wheelchair, you may be eligible to participate in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games. No matter if you...
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, LGMD, is a genetic group of disorders that affects the muscles in the shoulders and hip girdles. These muscles slowly lose strength over many years. Generally weakness occurs first in the hips and legs, followed by...
Cerebral palsy refers to a group of permanent congenital disorders that affect movement, balance and posture. It is one of the most common physical disabilities in children, appearing in 2 to 4 of every 1,000 live births in the United States....
While Parkinson's disease is degenerative, and mobility issues will eventually result in the majority of cases, you can help a patient ward off physical disability by encouraging regular exercise. It might be as simple as a walk in the park or a...
As we age, we often face additional needs and challenges connected to getting older. If a family member, neighbor, or friend has reached a point where he needs assistance with his daily routine, you'll need to know what those daily needs are....
Just as the name suggests, electric wheelchairs are fueled and utilized by the power of electricity. This power is created and delivered from a battery that uses motors to move the gears and belts necessary for the chair's movement. This is a...
Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the United States, and organizations striving to make the game accessible for those with disabilities have been in place since the mid-1900s. The National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) is...
Since over 85 percent of those living with multiple sclerosis experience debilitating mental and neuromuscular fatigue, they must plan ahead in order to avoid overexertion. While it is difficult to give up your independence and desire to...
Quadriplegia is a condition that is typically the result of an accident that has resulted in a spinal cord injury. Quadriplegics suffer some form of paralysis in both the arms and legs, which may vary in severity depending on where along the spine...
Physical therapists use a variety of equipment to treat the injuries of their patients and hasten them to recovery. Some products are highly specialized, while others are fairly common pieces of exercise equipment used to strengthen the legs and...
Vehicle lifts help to make automobiles accessible to people in wheelchairs. Many types are available and range from simple hitch lifts on the back of a vehicle to elevator-type lifts that allow a wheelchair to be loaded into a vehicle that has...
The nation's capital is a great base for a vacation and has plenty of attractions on offer itself. If you are handicapped or traveling with handicapped companions, it can sometimes be difficult to find activities that are suitable, have proper...
If you have problems with mobility, you don't have to opt for a standard wheelchair if it doesn't fit with your lifestyle. Wheelchair alternatives can offer assistance with benefits you may not find in a standard chair. Depending on your...
Cook County, Illinois, is home to more than 2,000 acres of water, making it an ideal place for those looking for a lakeside vacation of fishing and camping.
